Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1887-01-13

nla..
Vtm7fyNENs- were comfortably
I'VE seated in fonda at
Monterey, smoking
,ARMEy cgarritoS and dis
cnssing their late discovery. But they
We're in no better mood than their late
companions, and it appeared from their con
versatiou that in an evil moment they ha'
sold out their interest in the alleged silver
mine to Wiles and Pedro for a few hundred
dollars -TTsuccumbing to what they We're as
sured would he an active opposition on the
part of he Amercanos The astute reader
will easily understand that the accomplished
Mr.. Wiles did not inform them Of its value
as quicksilver mine, although he was OBJ
liged te impart his secret to Pedro as a
necessary accomplice and reckless coadjutor.
That Pedro felt no qualms of conscience in
| thus betraying his tw' comrades may be in
| ferred from his recent direct and sincere
treatment of Concho and that he would, if
occasion offered or policy made it expedien'
as calmly ohliterate Mr.. Wiles-that gentle
man himself never for moment doubted.
IF we had waited but a little he would
udNe ShtH IllclC-iilN Noth-CgCt
/ Manuel. .querulously
'Not peso" said Miguel, firmly.
"And why, my Miguel. Thou knowest we
could have worked the mine ourselves"
GOOD, and lost even that labor. Look
you, little brother. Show to me now the
Mexican that has ever made real of a mine
in California How many, ehs Nonel Not
one Who owns the Mexcan's mine, eh!
Americinosl Who takes money from the
Mexican's minel Americanosl Thou TO
memberest Briones. who spent gold min,
to make silver ones Who has the lands and
house of Briones7 Americanosl Who has
the cattle Of Brioness AmericaDosl Who
has the mine of BrioncS' Americanosl Who
has the silver Briones never founds Ameri
canos! Always the same Foreverl Ali
carrambai"
Thenshe Evil One evidently took it into
his head and horns r. worry and toss these
men-comparatively innocent rs they were
still further, for purpose. For presently tc
them appeared one Victor Garcia, whilom
clerk of the Ayuntemiento, who rallied them
over aguardiente, and told them the story of
the quicksilver discovery, and the two mining
claims taken out that night by Concho an6
Wiles Whereat Manuel exploded with pro
family and burned blue with sulphurous male
diction: but Miguel the recent ecclesiastic,
sat lvid and thoughtful Finally came
pause in Manuels bombardment, and some
thing like this conversation took place be.
tween the cooler actors:
Miguel boughtfully)-When was it thou
didlst petition for lands in the valley, friend
Victor?
Victor amazedly)-Neverl 1t is a sterile
waste Am a fool?
Miguel tsoftlyl-Thou didst. OF thy gov
ernor, Micheltorena. have seen the appli-
cation
Victor beginning to appreciate rodential
odor)--Sil had forgotten. Art thou sure it
was in the valley?
Miguel persuasively)-In the valley and up
the falda.s
Victor with decision)-Certainly. OF
verity-the falda likewise
Miguel (eyeing Victor)-And yet thou hadst
not the grant. Painful is it that it shoulu
have been burned with the destruction of the
,ther archives by the Americanos at Mon
terey.
Victor Cautiously feeling his way)-Pos
siblemente.
Miguel-It might be wise to look into it.
Victor (bluntly)-As whys
Miguel-For our good and thine, friend
Victor. We bring thee a discovery; thou
bringest us thy skill. thy experience, thy gov
ernment knowledge-thy custom house pa
pert
Manuel (breaking in drunkenly)-But for
what7 We are Mexicans. Are we not fatedl
We shall lose. Who shall keep the Ameri-
canos OFF,
Miguel-We shall take one American ini
Hal seest thous This American comrade
shall bribe his court, his corregidores. After
a little he shall supply the men who invent
'Talda, or valda, T. e., that part Of the skirt Of
woman's robe that breaks upon the ground, and
is also applied to the final slope of hill, from the
angle that it makes upon the level plain
tGrants, applications and official notifications,
under the Spanish government, Were drawn on a
stamped paper known as Custom House paper.
the machine of steam, the mill, the furnace,
eh?
Victor-But who is he-not to steal!
Miguel-He is that man Of Ireland, good
Catholic, at Tres Pinos. h
Victor and Manuel (olnneS-Roscommon!
Miguel-Of the same. We shall give him
share for the provisions, for the tools, for
the aguardiente 1t is of the Irish that the
Americanos have great fear. 1t is of them
that the votes are madc--that the president
is chosen 1t is of him that they make the
alcalde in San Francisco. And we are Of the
church, like him.
They said "Bueno" all together, and for the
moment appeared to be upheld by religious
enthusiasm-a joint confession of faith that
meant death, destruction and possibly for
gerry, as against the men who thought other
WISE
This spiritual harmony did away with all
practical consideration and doubt. ~ have a
little niece, said Victor, "whose work with the
pen is marvellous. If one says to her, Car
men, copy me this or the other one'-even if
it be copper plate-look you it is done, and
YOU cannot know of which is the original.
Madre de Dios! the other day she makes me a
rubrics of The governor, Pho Pico, the same,